PDActions

Epocrates News Room: "Epocrates Launches MobileCME -- First PDA-based Medical Education Product Fully Integrated with Clinical Reference Software Custom-built, Complimentary Software Enhances Ease and Convenience for Today’s Busy Physicians Leveraging content from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and other respected clinical organizations, Epocrates has launched the MobileCME on-the-go continuing medical education system, which enables physicians to take continuing medical education (CME) courses on handheld devices such as Palm- and Pocket PC-based operating system devices and smartphones. The free product, available at www.epocrates.com, offers physicians a convenient and flexible option to earn required CME credits anytime, anywhere. “Epocrates has always understood that practitioners are mobile by nature. That’s a large part of why one in four U.S. physicians currently use our products in practice every day,” said Kirk Loevner, Epocrates president and chief executive officer. “With the MobileCME solution, we are offering yet another easy, convenient and effective way for physicians to stay abreast of both new and changing medical information whenever they want, wherever they are.” The content for the MobileCME on-the-go learning system is delivered from top U.S. medical schools, including the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and other educational institutions. The clinical content is developed by leading faculty and consists of diverse research and practice-related topics. Other institutions that have contributed to the launch of MobileCME include the Massachusetts Medical Society (publishers of the New England Journal of Medicine and Journal Watch) and the Health Science Center for CME. Course options include clinical areas such as cardiology, pediatrics, psychiatry, internal medicine and oncology, with additional courses being added throughout the year. Each MobileCME course consists of an easy-to-read educational article followed by a brief post-test. After successfully completing the post-test of up to ten questions, the physician can submit the activity for CME credit from the accredited provider. When users synchronize their handheld devices to the Internet, the results of completed CME programs are sent to Epocrates. After receiving the results, Epocrates e-mails certificates to the users verifying the credits earned. New CME courses are automatically downloaded when users synchronize their devices. The mobile functionality of the program enables doctors to start CME courses on their own time and complete the course work at their own pace, with no need to be connected to any system. “Physicians have such busy schedules that finding time to travel to CME conferences or complete lengthy enduring materials makes it increasingly challenging for them to meet their CME requirements,” said Victor Marrow, Johns Hopkins CME administrator. “MobileCME represents a real transformation in how CME can be effectively delivered. It simplifies the process, allowing doctors the opportunity to earn CME credits and gain knowledge on a number of important clinical topics when it’s convenient for them.” A survey of more than 100 physicians who recently participated in the MobileCME program showed that 97 percent believe the Epocrates MobileCME on-the-go learning system is an effective method for presenting CME courses. Additionally, 79 percent believe they will use the product at least once a week. 'The ability to provide CME content via mobile devices gives us the opportunity to offer courses to more practitioners than ever before,' said Chris Lynch, Vice President for Publishing at the Massachusetts Medical Society. 'Mobile medicine is an increasingly important part of the clinical landscape and Journal Watch is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this essential medium.' “Physicians have many diverse learning styles,' states Joseph Green PhD, a spokesperson for the Health Science Center for CME. “For the over 170,000 physicians in the Epocrates network used to using their mobile devices for clinical information, MobileCME offers a convenient alternative to traditional didactic methods, long lectures, or CD-ROMs. We are excited to have partnered with Epocrates on the design and launch of this revolutionary new educational option for doctors.' To give Epocrates users seamless access, Epocrates has fully integrated the MobileCME application with its other products, including: Epocrates Essentials all-in-one mobile guide to drugs, diseases and diagnostics; Epocrates Rx mobile drug and formulary guide; Epocrates Dx disease diagnosis and treatment reference; and Epocrates Lab diagnostic reference."